US Secretary of Transportation set to experience the Danish bicycling culture

An inspirational bike ride will be part of the programme when the US Secretary of Transportation visits Copenhagen on Monday.

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

15. April 2016

On Monday 18 April 2016, the US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx visits Denmark. One of the main purposes of the visit will be to acquire insight into how Denmark has succeeded in creating a bicycle-friendly urban environment.

Secretary Foxx will tour Copenhagen on bike with the Danish Minister for Transport and Building Hans Christian Schmidt.

The bike tour will take them across “Cykelslangen” (the Bicycle Snake), a designated bridge for bicycles connecting Dybbølsbro to Bryggebroen across the Copenhagen harbor. The Bicycle Snake has received considerable international attention and acclaim because of its architectural design and the opportunities it offers for the cyclists.

Secretary Foxx and Minister Schmidt will also discuss the future cooperation of the US and Denmark in the area of transport. The meeting of Secretary Foxx and Minister Schmidt will conclude with the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the US and Denmark.

- I am looking forward to welcoming my American colleague, Secretary Foxx, and for us to tour Copenhagen on bike, showing how we develop infrastructures such as “Cykelslangen” to promote cycling, and how such infrastructure projects function as drivers of urban development and renewal, says Hans Christian Schmidt.

- At the same time, I look forward to discussing the future cooperation between our two countries. A fruitful, constructive cooperation between Denmark and the US is important in all policy areas, including transport.

On his visit to Copenhagen, the US Secretary of Transportation will be joined by the mayors of three large cities in the US, Austin, Portland and South Bend. Along with the American Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford and the CEO of the Danish Cyclists' Federation Klaus Bondam, the mayors will join the ministers on the cycling-tour across Cykelslangen, via “Cirkelbroen” to Restaurant No.2, and from the restaurant to Christiansborg Palace by Knippelsbro.

The press is welcome to participate in the event.

A doorstep will be held at Christiansborg Palace (Venstre’s Group Room) at 15.20.